Physics is coming to Philosophy or what? Quantum Mechanics says even the material objects have conscience?

Question

Probably Niels Bohr was of the opinion that God can play dice also. Experiments show that if ther are two slits ahead, An electron fired from an electron gun can decide thru which slit it should go... can that mean stones have life, cars have life, houses have lives, probably ther is an element of Divinity in everything around..? Physics is coming to Philosophy or what?

Oh! the Physics Master has a phantastic answer.. so simple that any layman can understand these concepts of Science and now the Philosopher in jk tells that the phenominon called probability in its last resort, i mean when goes into the subtle roots, may be nothing but the limited individual conscience and what Quantum Mechanics theory of Modern World says basically under the roots the individual Coscience is part and parsel of a Collective Universal or Cosmic Consciousness ... this is just an attempt to further get into the subtle roots of Probability and Q.M. in the limelight of Oriental Thoughts (Eastern Philosophical Concepts) of Jeevathma and Paramathma... any thank you very much for a wonderful answer ....

luv and SAI RAM,
jk
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/athmavidya

Answer 1

You've asked a great question. Quantum Mechanics provides us an insight into the inner working of the Universe at its most fundamental level, the level of sub-atomic particles, the constituents of all matter in the Universe.

So what does Quantum Mechanics tell us? Does it tell us that material objects have consciousness or conscience? Do inanimate objects make choices about what happens to it? The answer is absolutely NO. This is just an unfortunate but understandable misintepretation of Quantum Theory.

When Newton published his Three Laws of Motion, many including Newton himself interpreted that the Universe is a "clockwork" Universe where everything including people follow definite paths determined by initial conditions and the three laws of motion. It was only a matter of complexity that differentiated how inanimate objects behaved and how people behaved. There was really no choice once things are set into motion - every cause will have a definitive effect. This was how people viewed the world in the 19th century.

After Newton's theory was overturned by Quantum Mechanics and Einstein's Theory of General and Special Relativity, many people, both scientists and non-scientists alike, are trying to grapple with what the new theories tells us about the nature of the Universe, and interpret its meaning. So what does QM tell us?

(1) There is no definitive cause and effect. It is probability that determines the outcome of any event, period. What this means is that "nothing is predetermined".

BTW, you are right about Niel Bohr having the opinion that "God plays dice" after Einstein was quoted saying that "God does not play dice".

(2) There is no absolute objectivity where the observed object and the observer are completely separate. One of the fundamental tenets of modern science is that we can make objective observations of the natural world, and that we, the observer, do not impact or change the phenonmenon being observed. Well, this is simply NOT true, particularly in QM.

What this means is that there are always interactions between the observed object and the observer. In the world of elementary particles, these interactions are HUGE. In many cases, these interactions determines the outcome of the experiment or observation.

This is where alot of misinformed individuals make the wrong interpretations of QM. In the example you mentioned about the electron being fired from an electron gun, many thinks that the electron "decides" which slit to go through. This is simply NOT the case. Probability determines which slit the electron goes through, but our act of observation influences or changes the probability. So some people are attributing our influences to the electron itself, because they are not aware of the observed-observer interaction.

Anyways, there are many other examples like this, such as quantum entanglement, wave-function collapse, etc. that I can go on and on talking about, but I don't want to write a book here (if I haven't already). But I hope I have helped you gain a little better understanding of Quantum Mechanics.

Answer 2

Actually Physics and all forms of study came out of Philosophy so Physics is not becoming Philosophy it always was part of it, although sectioned off as a specialization. It is possible that the life force permeates everything. Certainly life is ubiquitous throughout the Universe and not just concentrate here on earth. There also seems to be some connection between what were thought to be inanimate particles which can affect each other over vast distances. I am not convinced that this can be translated to support the proposition that material objects have 'conscience' which is a moral term not amenable to incorporation into the natural world, it being only a human construct interwoven with the ideas of good and evil. The fact is that we do not really know much about life or anything else for that matter.

Answer 3

It means nothing of the kind. The electron does not choose which slit to go through -- the choice is entirely random. The dice quote was originally from Einstein; any elementary student of quantum mechanics knows that in this case Einstein was wrong.

Answer 4

Physics and Metaphysics...not the same subject.

There is little to be gained by anthropomorphizing elementary particles, even the "God particle," as the (not yet detected) Higgs boson has been nicknamed.

Quantum Mechanics is well-named. Let it describe the workings of the Universe and we higher life forms (not necessarily congruent with the set of all users of Yahoo Answers) will ascribe meaning, and rejoice at the beauty, of Creation.

Answer 5

And religion too....

Scientific understanding always has an impact on religion and philosophy... the more we know, the more questions that fall into the realm of the theologian and the philosopher, and the more that old theologies and philosopies are challenged (or confirmed).

Answer 6

Well......everything has energy...so who is to say that this energy isn't some sort of sentient being. Whether it mineral, plant ...maybe just not a consciousness as we know it. Who's to say. Interesting topic though! Science and religion are coming full circle to one another in certain aspects!

Answer 7

Uh, I think you are overreacting to the idea that electrons aren't as predictable as bullets. In fact, given my background in chemical physics, I have no idea what you are talking about re: stones and whatnot having life.

Sorry,

Answer 8

I'VE NEVER HEARD THIS SORTA THING!
THIS IS PURE BULLSHIT MAN
SEE ITS NOT THAT THE ELECTRONS DECIDE THRU WHICH SLIT TO PASS

ITS SIMPLE DEVIATION OR THE WAT U CALL THE ELECTRONS GET DEVIATED IN MID AIRAND DONT U THINK THEY WILL TRAVEL IN STRAIGHT PATH LIKE A RAY LIKE LIGHT!

MAY BE THEY COLLIDE WITH EACH OTHER AND THEREFORE THATS WHY SOME OF THEM GO TO THE RIGHT ONE AND SUM TO LEFT SLIT!!!!!!!

AND NOTHING MORE THAN THAT,ALSO TO CALM U ,UR PEN WONT KILL U ONE DAY WHILE WRITING,FOR NOT USING HIM CONTINOUSLY!!!!!!!!